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<p>In the government’s Spring Budget 2023, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, announced transformative reforms to childcare for parents, children
and the economy. This included £289 million to support the expansion of wraparound
childcare for primary school-aged children. By 2026, all parents and carers of primary
school-aged children, who need it, will be able to access term time wraparound childcare
in their local area from 8am to 6pm.</p><p>Since 2021, the department has provided
more than £200 million of funding per year to local authorities across England, who
take responsibility for the provision of the Holidays Activities and Food programme
(HAF) in their area.</p><p>The HAF programme provides heathy meals, enriching activities
and free childcare places to children from low-income families, benefiting their heath,
wellbeing and learning.</p><p>School holidays can be particular pressure points for
some families because of increased costs, such as food and childcare, and reduced
incomes. For some children that can lead to a holiday experience gap, with children
from disadvantaged families less likely to access organised out-of-school activities,
more likely to experience ‘unhealthy holidays’ in terms of nutrition and physical
health and are more likely to experience social isolation.</p><p>Free holiday clubs
are a response to this issue and evidence suggests that they can have a positive impact
on children and young people. It also shows they work best when they provide consistent
and easily accessible enrichment activities, when they offer more than just breakfast
or lunch, and when they involve children and parents in food preparation.</p><p>Local
authorities are responsible for understanding the needs of the children and families
in their area and ensuring that the programme reaches those who need it.</p><p>While
the majority of funding that local authorities receive should be used for holiday
club places for children in receipt of free school meals (FSM), local authorities
have discretion to use up to 15% of their funding to provide free or subsidised holiday
club places for children who are not in receipt of benefits-related FSM but who the
local authority believe could benefit from HAF provision.</p><p>In deciding which
children should benefit from the 15% flexible funding, local authorities are asked
to ensure that these places are aligned to their local priorities.</p><p>A number
of local authorities across England have secured additional funding or resources that
has allowed them to expand the reach of their programme.</p><p>The HAF programme is
delivered during longer school holidays, Easter, summer and the Christmas break, in
all 153 local authorities in England.</p><p>Since 2022, the HAF programme has provided
11.3 million HAF days to children and young people in this country. Across 2023, a
total of 5.3 million HAF days were provided during Easter, summer and winter delivery.</p>
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